Apparatus for the deposition of viscous liquid materials



J. G; NASH Jan. 30, 1962 APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF VISCOUS LIQUIDMATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1959 INVENTOIQ W /& nM/L ATTORNY Jan. 30, 1962 J. G. NASH 3,018,724

APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF VISCOUS LIQUID MATERIALS Filed Feb. 9,1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VE N TOR ATTORNE- Y J. G; NASH Jan. 30, 1962APPARATUS FOR THE DEPOSITION OF VISCOUS LIQUID MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet3 Filed Feb. 9, 1959 Q4 1@ 2 wmwn 1? I 1 3 3 A? W w 8 Q 6 4 IN VEN TOR M1 M B W 41M ATTORNEY United States Patent Filed Feb. 9, 1959, Ser. No.791,977 Claims priority, application Great Britain Feb. 13, 1958 6Claims. (Cl. 101-171) The present invention is concerned withimprovements in and relating to apparatus for the deposition of thinlayers of paints, inks and other viscous liquid materials in accuratelydefined areas on surfaces, the apparatus being of the kind comprising amatrix having a number of shallow cavities formed in its operative facefor the reception of the material to be deposited on the said surface inpatches or areas defined by the boundaries of the cavities in thematrix, which cavities are closed by the application of the surfaceintended to receive the deposited material against the said operativeface of the matrix, conduits leading through the matrix to the cavitiesfor the pressure-introduction thereto of the material to be deposited,and means being provided for controlling relative movement between thematrix and the surface intended to receive the deposit.

The materials to be deposited by utilization of such apparatus areliquids which remain in the accurately defined areas in which they havebeen deposited when the matrix and the surface are separated. Forexample, such apparatus has been used for the deposition of paint onsheets of paper or paper board to form what are konwn as colour cards.

Each apparatus usually comprises a fixed frame structure including anumber e.g. four vertical posts carrying a rigid horizontal head frame,the matrix being fixedly mounted in the frame structure in a horizontalposition with the cavities therein facing downwards, and a platenarranged for rising and falling movements parallel to itself and to thematrix in the frame structure to raise and lower the sheets or otherarticles towards and away from the fixed matrix.

It is usual to employ a rising and falling platen of substantiallyconstant stroke on which is carried a flatso called make ready supporton which the sheets of paper, card or the like are received singly insuccession, the sheets being held thereon for example by suction throughsmall distributed holes in the make-ready support, and the held sheet inthe raised position of the platen being held in pressure engagement withthe underface of the matrix.

It is essential that effective and substantially uniformly distributedpressure engagement be made between the surfaces of the matrix and thesheet in order to avoid leakage of the liquid past the boundaries of therecesses in the matrix during deposition while also avoiding marked indentation and disfigurement of the surfaces receiving the deposit andsince deposits are required to be made on sheets or the like ofdifferent thickness tedious and timeconsuming preparation steps areinvolved in setting-up for a new job, such as substitution of matricesand substitution and packing of make-ready supports to ensure accuratelyadequate and uniform surface-pressure engagement between the sheets andthe matrices.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus of the kind referred to above with which the setting-upoperations can be carried out more easily and quickly than with thehitherto known apparatus.

The invention consists in an apparatus of the kind referred tocomprising a rigid frame structure including a number of vertical postscarrying a rigid head frame and a rising and falling platen having asubstantially constant stroke for raising a sheet of material intoengagement with a matrix, wherein matrix supporting and adjusting meansis provided in the form of one or a number of supporting members movablewith regard to the fixed head frame, adjustable connecting membersbetween the matrix support or supports and the head frame permittingadjustment of the position of the support or supports and therefore of amatrix carried thereby relative to the head frame, and separatelyadjustable elements carried by the matrix support or supports or thehead frame and constituting spacing abutment members for maintainingspacing between the matrix support or supports and the head frame asset.

Commercially available card and paper sheets often show slight variationin thickness between different parts of the area thereof and in order tobe able to apply such sheets of varying thickness with substantiallyuniformly distributed pressure against the matrix the rising and fallingplaten of the improved apparatus is arranged to be capable of very smallrocking movements from true parallelism with the face of the matrix andthe lifting force is applied to the platen at a number of distributedpoints and through means at those points of application capable of avery limited yield.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of a complete machine.

FIG. 2 is a view in part sectional side elevation.

FIG. 3 is a view in plan of the head frame and the matrix supports andFIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of details.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a rectangular baseplate 1 and four fixed parallel vertical posts 2 extending upwards fromthe corners of the base plate 1 and fixedly connected at their upperends to a rigid head frame 3.

The head frame 3 may be a hollow frame as shown in FIG. 3 connected withthe upper ends of the posts 2 by nuts 4 applied over reduced andscrew-threaded parts at the upper ends of the posts.

The rising and falling platen has the form of a stiff plate 5, usually acasting, apertured at its four corners to provide guide holes 6 forsliding engagement over the posts 2.

A pair of parallel cam shafts 7 and 8, mounted in fixed bearings 9 on aplatform 10 fixed to the posts 2 in a position below the platen 5, eachcarry two similar cams 11 and 12 engaging cam rollers 13 mounted inyokes 14 carried at the underside of the platen '5, one near each cornerthereof. V

A drive shaft 15 is mounted in fixed bearings 16 on the platform 10 andbetween the cam shafts 7 and 8 and is driven continuously by a belt,chain or the like 17 from a motor and the drive shaft 15 is in drivingconnection through gearing and a one-revolution clutch 18 of anyconvenient form with a countershaft 19 so that the latter may be causedto make single complete revolutions at the will of an operator, and agear wheel 20 on the countershaft 19 makes meshing engagement withsimilar gear wheels 21 and 22 on the crankshafts 7 and 8 so that the camshafts make single revolutions with the countershaft thus effecting atimed up and down movement of the platen 5.

On the platen 5 in the case illustrated, is mounted a rigid make-readyblock 23 in the form of an inverted hollow box of metal having a flattop, the block having dovetail flanges 24 on two sides for slidingengagement with parallel dovetail strips 25 fixed on the platen 5.

The lower end of the hollow make-ready block 23 is closed and the upperwall thereof is furnished with a number of distributed apertures 26 andthe interior of the block is connected through a flexible pipe 27(FIG. 1) with a suction line so that a sheet of paper or card placed onthe flat upper surface, if necessary with the interposition of packingpieces etc. in readiness to be applied to the matrix to receive thedeposit, is retained firmly in position down on the apetrured uppersurface of the block 23 by suction.

The matrix is a metal block 28 of known kind having shallow cavities inone of its major faces and passages through the body of the blockconnected withpipes (not shown) whereby liquids to be deposited can beintroduced under pressure from a suitable source and through said pipesand passages into the cavities whilst the cavities are closed by theapplication of a sheet of card or the like with pressure against theface of the matrix containing the cavities.

In a machine as illustrated the matrix 28 is mounted in the upper partof the machine with the face containing the cavities facing downwards,so that when the platen 5 and the make-ready block 23 with a sheet ofcard in position on the upper surface thereof are raised by the earns 11and 12 the sheet of card can be brought into pressure engagement withthe under face of the matrix to close the cavities, after which theliquids to be deposited are delivered under pressure in known mannerthrough the passages through the matrix, to fill the cavities andthereby deposit the liquid in areas on the card defined by theboundaries of the cavities in the matrix 28.

The matrix 28 is mounted in the machine by means enabling its positionrelative to the sheet of card or the like when raised to be set so thatthe engagement between the sheet and the matrix takes place withsubstantially uniformly distributed pressure.

The matrix suporting means consists of two stifi bars 29, 30, extendingparallel to one another from back to front across the machineimmediately below the head frame 3.

Each bar 29 and 30 is formed of two metal strips 31 and 32 (FIG. 3)Welded together but in spaced relationship through spacing pieces 33 atintervals along their length.

The bars 29, 30 embody sleeves 34 and 35 near to but slightly spacedfrom their extremities and with their axes parallel to and midwaybetween the planes of the two strips forming the bar, the sleeves beinginternally threaded, and on the ends of the strips forming the bars areformed upstanding lugs in pairs 36, 37 having holes therein formingbearings for pivoting cross pins 38 at the lower ends of screws 39provided on their upper ends with hand wheels 40.

The sleeves 34, 35 contain bolts 41 introduced from the ends of thesleeves remote from the upstanding lugs 36, 37 and lock nuts 42 areprovided on the bolts 41 prior to insertion in the sleeves.

The screws 39 extend freely through holes in one of the arms 43 ofsupport members 44 of bell crank form, the arms 43 terminating in hooks45 for retaining engagement over beads 46 formed on two opposite edgesof the upper surface of the head frame 3.

With the hooks 45 engaged over the beads 46 the other limbs 47 of thebell-crank support members 44 extend downwards and contact the outersides of the cross pins 3 8, and the free ends of the bolts 41 in thesleeves 34, 35 of the support bars 29, 30, are in register with parts ofthe surface of the underside of the head frame 3.

The matrix 28 is rigidly fixed to the two support bars 29, 30 by meansof bolts 48 passing through the matrix and upwards through the slotsbetween the two strips 31 and 32 constituting the bars.

The make-ready work on the upper face of the makeready block 23 havingbeen completed and the matrix 28 to be used having been rigidly boltedto the two support bars, a sheet of card or paper is placed on the uppersurface of the block 23.

The lock nuts 42 and bolts 41 on the support bars 29 and 30 areslackened off and the platen 6 then moved to its fully raised positionby mean of the cams 11 and 12, usually through a hand gear (not shown)operating on the drive shaft, the suction through pipe 27 beingmeanwhile on to hold the sheet down on the surface of the block 23.

With the platen 23 and the parts carried thereby held in the fullyraised position the support bars 29, 30 may now be lowered by means ofthe several hand wheels 40 and screws 39 until the lowercavity-containing surface of the matrix 28 makes uniformly distributedsurface engagement with the sheet on the make-ready block.

With the matrix 28 in this position, the bolts 41 in the sleeves 34, 35are turned e.g. by means of a tommy bar engaging in holes in the headsof the bolts 41, to engage their uper free ends with the underside ofthe head frame 3, the lock nuts 24 then being moved into the lockingposition.

When necessary or desirable additional pressure over and above thatcorresponding to the weight of the matrix and the support bars may beapplied to the sheet on the block by manipulation of the abutment bolts41 in conjunction with the suspension screws 39.

With the matrix 28 set as described, a succession of similar sheets orcards may be engaged by the rising of the platen 5 with the matrix toreceive the deposits from the filled cavities in the matrix, it beingunderstood that the matrix operates at a speed permitting removal of asheet having a deposit and insertion of a new sheet whilst the platen isdown and the supply of liquid to the matrix being arranged to take placeunder any convenient and known form of control only whilst the platen isin its fully raised position.

The use of the bell crank support members 44 offers the advantage ofvery rapid disconnection and removal of support bars 29 and 30 with onematrix and substitution of other support bars and another matrix.

In lighter built machines however the bell crank support members may bedispensed with, the screws 39 extending through holes in the head frame3 and the cross pins 38 may be knock-out pins permitting separation ofthe support bars 29, 30 from the screws 39.

With heavier built machines using the bell-crank support members 44,strong tension springs 55 may be provided between the cross pins 38 andthe support bars 29, 30, as shown in FIG. 5, the cross pins beingcapable of limited vertical movement in slots in the lugs 36, 37 butnormally resting in the lower ends of the slots by virtue of the pull ofthe springs. Such an arrangement ensures absence of jamming and ease andfreedom of movement of the hand wheels 40 after the support bars mayhave been drawn into firm contact with the head frame, the

springs 55 in such case being loaded.

It will be understood that the sheets intended to receive the depositmay in some cases be carried directly upon the platen 5 itself, againbeing held thereon by suction. The use of cams to raise and lower theplaten however, in practise requires an up and down movement of theplaten of relatively limited extent.

The use of the hollow make-ready block 23 offers the advantage that withthe platen down the block 23 may be slid off from the platen 5 makinguse of the dovetail guides 24 and 25 and on to a removable table such asis shown at 49 in FIG. 1 where the upper surface of the block 23 is morereadily accessible for make-ready purposes such as packing, patching,etc., and furthermore more ready access to the cavities in the underface of the matrix is also afforded.

To ensure substantially uniform pressure engagement between a sheet andthe face of the matrix in the case of slight deviations of thickness inindividual sheets, strong springs capable of only small yield under thedegree of pressure involved with such machines, are employed between theearns 11, 12 and their several points of application at the underside ofthe platen 5.

As shown in FIG. 4 the washers 50 are inserted between the upper ends ofthe stems 51 of the yokes 14 supporting the cam follower rollers, andthe bottom of recesses 52 formed in the underside of the platen 5 andthey may be centralised or located by pins 53 extending from the stems51 of the yokes 14 through the central holes in the dished washers andinto holes 54 at the bottom of the recesses 52in the platen 5.

Hardened steel thrust plates (not shown) may in some cases be providedon the bottom of the recesses 52 in the platen and in some cases on thestems 51 of the yokes, for engagement by the dished washers $0.

Any changes in the raised and lowered position of the platen 5 due toinsertion or removal of washers 50 can of course be readily compensatedfor by adjustment of the vertical height of the matrix 28 in the mannerpreviously described.

The means employed for causing introduction of the liquid material to bedeposited through the matrix may be of well known form providing forinitiating and stopping the supply of liquid to and from the cavities intimed relation with the cycle of movement of the platen.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the deposition of thin layers of paints, inks and otherviscous liquid material in accurately defined areas on the surface of awork piece, said apparatus comprising a rigid frame structure includinga rigid head frame, a vertically reciprocable platen making up and downmovements of substantially constant amplitude within said framestructure and below said head frame, a cavitated matrix engageable bythe surface of a work piece carried on said platen in the raisedposition of said platen, a plurality of matrix-supporting bars extendingacross and beneath said head frame, a plurality of spaced bell-crankseach having one limb supported on the head frame, a member extendingvertically through each of the limbs, means mounting one end of each ofthe members at one end of a respective matrix-supporting bar, meanscooperating with the vertically extending members and the limbs foradjusting the vertical position of the matrixsupporting bars and thematrix-supported thereby in relation to the platen, and abutment screwsin threaded engagement with said matrix-supporting bars and abutting theunderside of said head frame for maintaining the ad justed position ofthe matrix-supporting bars and the matrix supported thereby.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the other limb of the bellcrank depends generally vertically and outside the head frame andengages a part of the matrixsupporting bar.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mounting means for thevertically extending members at each end of said matrix-supporting barscomprises a lost motion connection and a tension spring between eachmember and its associated matrix-supporting bar, said spring beingloaded by movement of the said member in one direction upon contact ofthe abutment screws with said head frame.

4. Apparatus for the deposition of thin layers of paints, inks and otherviscous liquid material in accurately defined areas on the surface of awork piece, said apparatus comprising a rigid frame structure includinga rigid head frame, a vertically reciprocable platen making up and downmovements of substantially constant amplitude within said framestructure and below said head frame, a cavitated matrix which isengageable by the upper surface of a work piece when the work piece iscarried on said platen with the platen in the raised position, at leastone matrix-supporting member extending across and beneath said headframe, means for affixingsaid matrix to said member beneath said member,a plurality of independent adjustment units carried by said head frameconnecting said member to said head frame, said units being spaced apartfrom one another and positioned on said head frame so as to be adjacentthe ends of the matrixsupporting member and a plurality of independentadjustable abutment elements for maintaining said supporting member andthe matrix carried thereby in a fixed, predetermined position relativeto said platen, said elements being spaced apart from one another andpositioned adjacent the ends of said matrix-supporting member, saidadjustment units and said abutment elements being independentlyvertically adjustable whereby said matrix-supporting member and thematrix carried thereby may be tilted with respect to the horizontal aswell as moved vertically up and down.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 having means for effecting verticalmovement of the reciprocable platen comprising a plurality of camsengaging the underside of the platen and distributed about the centre ofsaid platen and a compression spring of high stiffness is providedbetween each cam and the point of application of pressure by the cam tothe underside of the platen.

6. Apparatus for the deposition of thin layers of paints, inks and otherviscous liquid material in accurately defined areas on the surface of awork piece, said apparatus comprising a rigid frame structure includinga rigid head frame, a vertically reciprocable platen making up and downmovements of substantially constant amplitude within said framestructure and below said head frame, a cavitated matrix which isengageable by the upper surface of a work piece when the work piece iscarried on said platen with the platen in the raised position, aplurality of support bars extending across and beneath said head frame,means for afiixing said matrix to said bars beneath the bars, anadjustment unit at each end of each of said bars, said units beingcarried by said head frame and being the sole means supporting the barsupon the head frame, and an adjustable abutment screw threaded in eachend of each said bar, said screws being independently verticallyadjustable to abut the underside of said head frame to maintain saidbars in the position to which adjusted by said adjustment units, saidadjustment units being independently vertically adjustable whereby saidmatrix-supporting member and the matrix carried thereby may be tiltedwith respect to the horizontal as well as moved vertically up and down.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS885,709 Althouse Apr. 28, 1908 1,699,929 Szabo Jan. 22, 19 9 1,725,461Lewis Aug. 20, 1929 1,801,899 Bischofi Apr. 21, 1931 1,849,597 SimmsMar. 15, 1932 2,226,163 Dufour Dec. 24, 1940

